Last week, I shared everything I expected to be announced at WWDC23. Some of those things were announced, others weren’t, and there were some things I definitely didn’t talk about that did get announced! Let’s take a look at what did get announced, though!
4 Software Updates
iOS 17: First up is iOS 17, which I’m guessing is the announcement most people care about. Like I expected, this update was a tune-up update with highly requested features finally coming to the iPhone. The difference, though, was it wasn’t features I expected. In the communication department, Apple added live voicemail, which allows you to see a live transcript of a voicemail before deciding if you want to answer the call. Apple also enhanced the messages app with search filters, audio message transcription (finally), a way to check on your friend or family member, additional ways to use stickers, and more! Finally, NameDrop allows you to swap contact info with someone new by just holding your phone close to theirs. Apple also announced a standby mode for the iPhone which allows you to view photos, music, and widgets while your phone is locked and charging. As I expected, Apple announced the new journaling app (creatively named Journal), which lets you receive journaling suggestions using on-device machine learning. Finally, Apple made improvements to autocorrect, safari, passwords, CarPlay, AirPlay, privacy, and SO much more! Take a look at the full iOS 17 preview here to learn about everything your iPhone will get with this update.
iPadOS 17: Like I expected, iPadOS 17 brought the customizable Lock Screen to the iPad, although it does look a little different from the iPhone, which I was hoping for. Apple also brought live activities to the iPad. Another update, which came to iOS 17 as well, is interactive widgets. This allows you to check off reminders, play music, and more right from the Home Screen! The iPad will also get everything new in messages and FaceTime that the iPhone will get in iOS 17. Another update is to PDFs and Notes, allowing you to fill out documents faster, interact with PDFs in the notes app, and so much more! With iPadOS 17, the iPad will get two new apps. First, the health app (finally), which allows you to see your health on a bigger screen. Lastly, the iPad will get the new journal app. This update has a lot more to offer, so be sure to check out the full preview!
WatchOS 10: WatchOS 10 was expected to be a HUGE redesign of the Apple Watch, and that is precisely what we got! First off, Apple redesigned almost every app on the Apple Watch! Next, Apple created Smart Stack, which is a stack of widgets that can be accessed right from your watch face. Speaking of watch faces, Apple added the Palette watch face and the Snoopy watch face with WatchOS 10. In the health department, the watch now has improvement for cycling workouts, hiking, vision health, and mental health. Again, refer to the full preview to learn more!
MacOS Sonoma: MacOS Sonoma was the update I knew the least about beforehand, so most of the updates came as a surprise to me! The first big update is the ability to add widgets right onto your Home Screen on the Mac. Apple also enhanced apps like Safari (which got a pretty significant update), Messages, and FaceTime. People who game on their Mac will like MacOS Sonoma as it includes more Mac games, a new Game Mode to improve gaming performance, and more! Like the iPad, the Mac got similar updates to PDFs and Notes. Take a look at the full preview to see what else is coming to the Mac.
4 Hardware Announcements
MacBook Air 15-inch: As expected, the MacBook Air 15-inch was announced at WWDC23, allowing for the great capabilities offered by the M2 chip in the 13.6 inch on a bigger screen! Learn more or order one for yourself here (available June 13th).
Mac Studio: As I discussed last week, Apple introduced a new Mac Studio with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra, giving it peak performance and huge capabilities! This device will be available on June 13th. Learn more or preorder this device here.
Mac Pro: Originally, I expected this to be announced, but a few days before the event, I read a rumor saying it likely wouldn’t be. It actually was announced though, and as expected, it brought Apple Silicon to the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro is an absolute beast and the specs are off the charts! Check it out here!
Apple Vision Pro: We have discussed a lot, but there is time for one more thing! As expected, Apple did announce Apple Vision Pro, which is Apple’s new mixed-reality headset! There is so much to discuss with this new headset, and I can’t talk about it all here, which is why I’m going to expand upon this topic in the next newsletter. For now, though, I will say the tech in this device is impressive and unlike anything we have ever seen before, but I don’t know who will pay the $3500 price tag! Read more about it in my next newsletter!
Wow, that was a lot! Apple certainly announced a lot at this event and held up to their promise of a huge event! I’m super excited to test all of this out and download these new software updates when they come out this fall!